Non-slip garment hanger

ABSTRACT

A non-slip garment hanger having a separately-formed non-slip element secured to an arm thereof in a non-movable manner. The non-slip element includes a base layer and a non-slip coating layer, and is attached to the arm of the hanger via a plurality of attachment stations, each attachment station featuring a pair of opposing fingers.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/872,814 filed Dec. 5, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to non-slip garment hangers and, more particularly, to a garment hanger having a separately-formed non-slip element secured to each of its arms.

Non-slip garment hangers are well-known in the art. Such hangers are used to limit/prevent slippage of clothing items, and typically consist of a conventionally-shaped hanger wherein at least a portion of each hanger arm includes a non-slip surface. In some prior art hangers, these non-slip surfaces have been directly adhered to the surface of the hanger via co-injection molding or other such processes. In other prior art hangers, the non-slip layer is separately formed and thereafter secured to the arm of the hanger via welding, gluing or other such means.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the application of a non-slip material directly to the surface of the hanger arm via co-injection or other such processes is a complicated process requiring complex molds and machinery. This, of course, limits the ability to mass manufacture such products, while also increasing the manufacturing costs.

With respect to prior art hangers in which the non-slip layer is independently formed and thereafter secured to the arm of the hanger, it has proven difficult to attach such layers to the hanger (in a non-movable manner) in the absence of gluing or welding. Accordingly, the prior art has generally required that such non-slip layers be glued and/or welded to the surface of the hanger to ensure that the non-slip layer remains firmly attached, and does not move/flex during usage of the hanger. Those prior art hangers which have attempted to attach the independently formed non-slip layer to the hanger without gluing or welding have employed a plurality of button-like tabs. However, the design of such tabs, taken together with the generally soft/flexible characteristics of the non-slip material, have resulted in products in which the non-slip layer remains movable/flexible even after attachment to the hanger.

Another prior art hanger (as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,586,637) includes non-slip elements which are formed with flexible lips which curl around at least a portion of the hanger body. However, the non-slip element disclosed in the mentioned '637 reference are inapplicable to hangers without an I-beam cross-section, and are prone to flexing/movement during usage of the hanger.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0182891 discloses another clothes hanger which is formed with a “notch” for receipt of a strap from a clothing item. This notch is formed by the attachment of a “clip” to the hanger body, the clip being covered by a layer of an anti-slip material. The clip is formed from a rigid portion of plastic, and is attached to the arm of the hanger at a single point. This prior art design, however, is inapplicable to garment hangers which do not include a “notch” and is not particularly adaptable to existing hanger designs. Moreover, the attachment of the clip to the hanger may be problematic if the corresponding parts are not perfectly formed and/or aligned, i.e. an undesirable lips or edges may be formed along the intersection between the parts.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a combined hanger/non-slip element wherein the two portions can be separately manufactured and thereafter assembled. The non-slip element is preferably secured to the hanger body without the need for gluing or welding. Moreover, the non-slip element must be attachable to the hanger in a secure fashion, without movement/flexing of the non-slip element during usage of the hanger. Finally, the non-slip element must be attachable to the hanger without the formation of any lips/edges which are unsightly, and which could potentially “catch” clothing items resting thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, which addresses the needs of the prior art, provides a non-slip hanger assembly. The assembly includes a hanger arm including a plurality of apertures extending through the upper surface of the arm. The assembly further includes a non-slip element positioned on the arm. The element includes a plurality of attachment stations. Each of the stations includes a pair of opposing fingers configured to engage at least a portion of one of the apertures to secure the element to the arm. The element includes a base layer and a non-slip coating layer. The fingers extend from the base layer.

In one preferred embodiment, the apertures are formed with a generally rectangular configuration. In another preferred embodiment, the upper surface of the hanger arm includes a recess into which at least a portion of the non-slip element is positioned. In still another preferred embodiment, the rectangular apertures include a pair of opposing outer edges, and each of the opposing fingers includes a shoulder for engagement with at least a portion of the outer edges.

As a result, the present invention provides a non-slip hanger which results from the combination of two separately-formed components. The hangers are manufactured in a first molding process, while the non-slip elements are manufactured in a second molding process. The ability to manufacture the non-slip elements in a separate process allows the use of high cavity molds, and eliminates the need for complicated and expensive molding that is typically required when the non-slip element is attached to the hanger during a single manufacturing procedure. As a result, the components can be manufactured at separate locations and thereafter assembled in the field, and at remote locations if desired. The use of a two-layer non-slip element, together with a plurality of attachment stations having opposing fingers, ensuring that the non-slip element is secured to the hanger arm in a manner which resists moving/flexing of the element during use of the hanger and provides operating characteristics comparable to those achieved via gluing and/or welding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a non-slip element formed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the non-slip element of FIG. 1 attached to the hanger arm;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail, in elevation, of the non-slip element of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail, in perspective, of the bottom of the non-slip element of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view showing the non-slip element of FIG. 1 secured to the hanger arm;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative non-slip element secured to the arm of a hanger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1-2, the present invention is directed to a non-slip garment hanger which is formed by the attachment of a discretely-formed non-slip element 10 to a hanger arm 12 of a U-shaped hanger. Non-slip element 10 has a width W and a length L, and is sized and configured to fit within a recess 14 formed in the arm of the hanger and defined by a circumferentially-surrounding wall 16. Both non-slip element 10 and wall 16 are preferably shaped and configured to provide a substantially continuous surface along the length of the hanger arm without any sharp breaks/edges which could “catch” a garment hanging thereon.

As best seen in FIGS. 3-4, non-slip element 10 includes a support base 18 upon which a non-slip coating 20 is applied. Base 18 extends along the length of the non-slip element, and is preferably formed from a plastic material having sufficient stiffness to ensure that non-slip element 10 resist flexing/movement when attached to the arm of a hanger. In particular, the material of base 18 is selected to provide base 18 with sufficient stiffness to resist flexing across the width of the arm. The dimensional ratio of base 18, together with the selected material, allows flexing along the length of the arm (which allows the non-slip element to conform to the shape of arm 12). In one preferred embodiment, base 18 is formed from polypropylene.

Base 18 is preferably provided with a plurality of attachment stations 22, which extend from a lower surface 24 of base 18. Non-slip coating 20 (e.g., thermoplastic rubber) is applied to an upper surface 26 of flexible base 18, preferably via a co-injection technique. As best seen in FIG. 3, non-slip coating 20 is preferably formed with a plurality of ribs 28 spaced along the length thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 4, each attachment stations 22 preferably includes a pair of opposing fingers 29, each defining an engagement shoulder 30. Arm 12 is provided with a plurality of rectangular apertures 31 which are sized to receive attachment stations 22 and provide engagement therewith. In one preferred embodiment, attachment stations 22 engage arm 12 via a “snap-in” process whereby the individual fingers on the attachment stations are flexed inward as the non-slip element is secured to the hanger arm, and ultimately spring outward once the element is positioned into recess 14, thereby locking the element to the hanger arm. This engaged position is best seen in FIGS. 5-6.

It has been discovered herein that the use of opposing fingers allows the non-slip element to be secured to the arm of the hanger in a non-moveable manner. More particularly, because the fingers are located at the edges of the non-slip element, and because such fingers contact outer edges 36 of the rectangular apertures, the non-slip element resists movement across the width of the arm after attachment of the element to the arm. In addition, the stiffness of base 18 provides further resistance to flexing/movement of the non-slip element across the width of the arm. Finally, edges 23 of the fingers can be sized and located to contact inner edges 38 of the rectangular apertures to resist movement of the non-slip element along the length L of the arm. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that prior art hangers employing button-like tabs or using a single-layer non-slip element have been unable to attach such non-slip layers to the hanger arm in a non-movable manner (without gluing and/or welding).

Referring now to FIG. 7, an alternative attachment member 22′ is shown. Attachment member 22′ includes a pair of opposing fingers 29′ defining engagement shoulders 30′. Shoulders 30′ are sized and located to engage lips 32 formed within rectangular apertures 31. Preferably, each finger 29′ is formed with a ramping region 34 which causes each of the opposing fingers to flex inward as the element is positioned onto the hanger arm. Once the ramping region 34 has passed the location of lips 32, the fingers of the attachment member are allowed to spring outward, thereby allowing shoulders 30′ to engage lips 32 and lock the attachment member to the hanger arm.

It will be appreciated that the present invention has been described herein with reference to certain preferred or exemplary embodiments. The preferred or exemplary embodiments described herein may be modified, changed, added to or deviated from without departing from the intent, spirit and scope of the present invention, and it is intended that all such additions, modifications, amendment and/or deviations be included within the scope of the followings claims. 

1. A non-slip hanger arm assembly, comprising: a hanger arm including a plurality of apertures extending through an upper surface thereof; a non-slip element positioned on said arm, said element including a plurality of attachment stations, each of said stations including a pair of opposing fingers configured to engage at least a portion of one of said apertures to secure said element to said arm, said element including a base layer and a non-slip coating layer, and wherein said fingers extend from said base layer.
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said apertures have a generally rectangular configuration.
 3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said upper surface of said hanger arm includes a recess, and wherein said non-slip element is positioned at least in part within said recess.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein said rectangular apertures include a pair of opposing outer edges, and wherein at least a portion of said fingers engage said outer edges to resist movement of said element across the width of said arm.
 5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein each of said opposing fingers includes a shoulder for engagement with at least a portion of said outer edges.
 6. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said rectangular apertures include a pair of opposing inner edges, and wherein at least one of said attachment stations engages said inner edges to resist movement of said element along the length of said arm.
 7. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said base layer is formed of a material having sufficient stiffness to resist flexing of said non-slip element across the width of said arm.
 8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said base layer and non-slip coating layer are co-injected.
 9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said non-slip coating layer is formed of thermoplastic rubber. 